A67922:863
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol.…Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol.…
Acts and monuments of matters most special and memorable, happening in the Church. [vol. 1] with an universal history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitive age to these latter times of ours, with the bloody times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions against the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperors, as now lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realm of England and Scotland. Newly revised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time again published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the help of Christ our Lord) John Fox, which desireth thee good reader to help him with thy prayer.Actes and monuments of matters most speciall and memorable, happenyng in the Church. [vol. 1] with an vniuersall history of the same, wherein is set forth at large the whole race and course of the Church, from the primitiue age to these latter tymes of ours, with the bloudy times, horrible troubles, and great persecutions agaynst the true martyrs of Christ, sought and wrought as well by heathen emperours, as nowe lately practised by Romish prelates, especially in this realme of England and Scotland. Newly reuised and recognised, partly also augmented, and now the fourth time agayne published and recommended to the studious reader, by the author (through the helpe of Christ our Lord) Iohn Foxe, which desireth thee good reader to helpe him with thy prayer.
London: printed by John Daye, 1583London: printed by Iohn Daye, 1583
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
As touching the time and order of the death and Martyrdom of S. Paul, as Eusebius, Hierome, Maximus and other authors do but briefly pass over: So Obadiah (if his book be of any substantial authority) speaking more largely of the same doth say:1 that after the crucifying of Peter, & the ruin of Simon Magus, Paul yet remaining in free custody, was dismissed and delivered at that time from Martyrdom by Gods permission, that all the Gentiles might be replenished with preaching of the Gospel by him.
As touching the tyme and order of the death and Martyrdome of S. Paule, as Eusebius, Hierome, Maximus and other authors doe but briefly passe ouer: So Abdias (if his booke be of any substātial authoritie) speaking more largely of the same doth say:1 that after the crucifying of Peter, & the ruine of Simon Magus, Paule yet remayning in free custody, was dimissed and deliuered at that time from Martyrdome by Gods permission, that all the Gentiles might be replenished with preaching of the Gospell by him.
- 1Abdias de viris. lib. 2.
And the same Obadiah proceeding in his story, declareth moreover, that as Paul was thus occupied at Rome, he was accused to the Emperor, not only for teaching new doctrine,1 but also for stirring up sedition against the Empire. For this he being called before Nero, and demanded to show the order and manner of his doctrine, there declared what his doctrine was, to teach all men peace and charity how to love one an other, how to prevent one an other in honour,2 rich men not to be puffed in pride, nor to put their trust in their treasures, but in the living God. Mean men to be contented with food and raiment, and with their present state. Poor men to rejoice in their poverty with hope. Fathers to bring up their children in the fear of God. Children to obey their parents. Husbands to love their wives. Wives to be subject unto their husbands. Citizens and subjects to give their tribute unto Caesar and to be subject to their magistrates. Masters to be courteous not currish to their servants. Servants to deal faithfully with their masters. And this to be the sum of his teaching, which his doctrine he received not of men nor by men, but by Jesus Christ, and the father of glory, which spake to him from heaven, the Lord Jesus saying to him, that he should go and preach in his name, and that he would be with him, and would be the spirit of life to all that believed in him, and that whatsoever he did or said, he would justify it, &c. After that Paul had thus declared unto the Emperor, shortly after sentence of death was pronounced against him,